TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – vi
List of tables – – – – – – viii
Abstract – – – – – – – – ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the study – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the problem – – – – – – – 4
Purpose of the study – – – – – – – – 5
Research questions – – – – – – – – 5
Significance of the study – – – – – – – 6
Scope of the study – – – – – – – – 6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual framework – – – – – – – 7
An overview of library preservation and security – – – 7
Methods of preserving and securing information
source in the library – – – – – – – 17
Constraints to preservation and security of information sources 29
Strategies for improving the preservation and security of information sources – – – – – – – – 32
Theoretical framework – – – – 40
Empirical review of related studies – – – – – 40
Summary of review of related literature – – – – 49
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH
METHOD
Research Design – – – – – – – – 51
Area of the study – – – – – – – – 51
Population of the study – – – – – – – 51
Sample and Sampling Technique – – – – – – 52
Instrument for Data Collection – – – – – – 52
Validation – – – – – – – – – 55
Method of Data Collection – – – – – 55
Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – – 55
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION
OF DATA
Research Question 1 – – – – – 56
Research Question 2 – – – – – – 57
Research Question 3 – – – – – – 57
Research Question 4 – – – – – – 59
Research Question 5 – – – – – – 60
Research Question 6 – – – – – – 61
Summary of Major Findings – – – – 62
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION,
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
Discussion of Findings – – – – – – – 64
Implication of the study – – – – – – – 66
Recommendations of the study – – – – – – 68
Suggestion for further research – – – 68
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – 69
References – – – – – – – – – 70
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
Input output relationship – – – – – 56
Population of the study – – – – – – 52
Mean responses of librarians
on the problems of preservation and security of information sources – –
– 56
Mean responses of librarians
on the extent of book loss through theft and mutilation – – – – – – 57
Mean responses of librarians
on the methods adopted in preserving and securing information sources – – – – 58
Mean responses of librarians
on the effectiveness of methods of preserving and securing information sources – – 59
Mean responses of librarians
on the constraints to preservation and security – – – – – – – 60
Mean responses of librarians
on the strategies for effective preservation and
security – – – – – – 61
ABSTRACT
This
study was designed to investigate the preservation and security of information
sources in polytechnic libraries in South East States of Nigeria. This is with the aim of
ascertaining the problems, the extent of book theft and mutilation, methods,
effectiveness of methods, constraints and strategies for enhancement. Six
objectives and research questions were formulated to guide the study. These
research questions are: What are the factors that constitute the problems of
preserving and securing information sources in polytechnic libraries in the
south east states of Nigeria,
what is the extent of book loss through theft and mutilation in these
polytechnic libraries. What methods of preserving and securing information
source are adopted by these libraries. To what extent are the methods adopted
in preserving and securing their information sources effective. What are the
constraints to preservation and security of information sources and what are
the strategies for effective preservation and security of information sources. A
descriptive survey design was adopted in carry out the study. The entire
population was studied. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire,
observation and interview. Out of 34 copies of the questionnaire distributed to
the librarians of polytechnic libraries in South East States of Nigeria
33 copies were returned, representing 97% of the questionnaire distributed. To
analyse the data, the following descriptive statistical measures were employed
frequency table, simple percentages and mean (x). The result obtained from the analysis
of data revealed that: The problems of preservation and security in polytechnic
libraries in South East States were mutilation, theft, dust, overdue and
disintegration of books, that these libraries used untrained security men to
protect their information sources, that combination of methods can make the
methods of protecting information sources effective, that there are many
constraints and strategies to preservation and security of information sources.
Based on the research findings, it was recommended that: libraries should
embark on training and retraining of library security men, better incentives in
terms of remuneration and training of all library staff and user as to the
evils of these antisocial activities in the libraries.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
Polytechnic libraries are established
to assist the polytechnic institutions to perform their functions and roles by
selecting, acquiring, processing, securing and preserving their information
sources, which are made available to users.
Libraries are also an essential part of the organization of a
polytechnic and the basis of all study and research. The polytechnic libraries hold a very
important and large proportion of the nation’s literary wealth and resources.
They represent the polytechnics’ sole instrument capable of reflecting the
totality of knowledge and the institutions’ major purposes and of relationships
and interdependences of its many departments and faculties. The basic purpose of a polytechnic library is
to serve the needs of its students, academic staff and polytechnic community. Therefore, the library should have a
comprehensive and functional collection to serve the information needs of the
users. However, most of the vast
collections of the library are made of paper based materials. These paper-based materials are subject to
deterioration within a space of time. Harvey
(1993), some rare books and other library materials need to be preserved and
secured. It becomes necessary that the
librarians and other library workers, having been aware of the problems of book
preservation and security in libraries, should be concerned with the protection
of these materials.
The issue of preservation and
security of information sources is very important to the existence of a
library. Harvey (1993) observed that deterioration is
on a massive scale, affecting such an immense volume of materials in the
libraries throughout the world, that to suggest it will become the major
professional concern of the coming decades is no exaggeration. Already the problems exist. The magnitude of the problem is
enormous. The factors that worsen the
problems vary from that of the quality of the environment in which library
collections are stored, the ways of handling these collections, increased use
of library resources as a consequence of improved education, to recent
awareness of our cultural heritage inherent in the materials themselves. Lincoln and Lincoln (1987) on their part
observed that the techniques that have been developed to prevent and control
crime are far more sophisticated than the chaining of books. The
presentation of research about library crime, disruption and
deterioration can provide insight into the problems faced by librarians and
stimulate thought about the range of solutions to the problems of crime,
disruption and deterioration. Further,
these problems arise from theft, mutilation, war, and vandalism of library
materials. Others are related to
disaster occurrences such as flooding, earthquake, volcanic eruptions and fire.
Therefore it becomes imperative that the librarians should inculcate
preservation, conservation and restoration as one of its programmes, make
arrangement for restoration of damaged materials and educate other staff
towards achieving this aim.
Information sources can be in print
or in electronic version, and they are vital and delicate. The way they are handled can affect the life
span of the records contained in them.
These records must be preserved and secured for future purposes.
Feather, (1997), information sources are also materials consulted for knowledge
about a topic, a theme, an event, a date, a number, a place or even a word.
Some information source lend themselves to quick and easy use and are called
reference sources (Aina, 2004). Other types of information sources are;
Journals, official publications and statistics, theses and dissertations,
internet sources, non-book material like cartographic materials, sound
recordings, motion picture. All these information sources are stored in the
library to provide the information that the uses need.
Information on the other hand is all
published and unpublished knowledge from a source to meet human needs for
decision making and for meaningful existence (Folurunso, 2004). Information is indispensable, an ingredient
for social, economic, industrial, political and technological advancement. It is a stimulus and responding to it prompts
us to act the way we do (Afolabi, 2003).
Information is not only an instrument for change, growth and development
but also data meant for answering or meeting users’ queries. Igbeka and Atinmo (2002) opined that
information is an important tool and a valuable resource required for the
realization of any objective or goal set by individuals. Therefore acquiring and using information is
critical and sine qua non to excelling in one’s responsibilities.
Information sources in our
polytechnic libraries should be preserved and secured because of the importance
of the information contained in them.
Levy (2003) pointed out that written documents help us to conduct financial
transactions, build bridges and skyscrapers, send greetings and express love,
run factories and corporations. He
asserted that our documents are agents helping us to make and maintain a
meaningful workable culture.
There are also other reasons why
information sources in our polytechnic libraries should be preserved and
secured. In a developing country like Nigeria,
there is a dearth of valuable publications.
It often takes a long time to purchase information sources from overseas
due to high exchange rate of our local currency in comparison with dollars and
pounds. In addition, paltry financial allocations are made to polytechnic
libraries. These resources are
inadequate and reproduction facilities are expensive (Banjo, 1982, Abifarin,
1992). The importance of preservation
and security of these information sources cannot be over emphasized.
Preservation is a means of taking
care of library materials to avoid deterioration (Aina, 2004). There are many
enemies of books which may attack or destroy library materials. These include
climatic conditions such as humidity, aridity, and ultraviolet rays, biological
agents such as book worms, ants, rodents and natural hazards such as fire,
flood and war. According to English
Folkdance and Songs Society (2009) preservation refers to the totality of
measures for maintaining the integrity of documents and the information
contained in them. It includes all the managerial and financial considerations,
storage and accommodation provisions, staffing level policies, techniques and
methods involved in safe guarding documentary materials.
On the other hand, security of
information sources deals with measures taken to guarantee the safety of
information sources in our libraries. Aguolu
and Aguolu (2002) are of the view that the advent of open stack encourage
browsing and faster dissemination of knowledge to all, but it exposes library
collections to more pilfering, mutilation and other antisocial acts. Many
borrowers ignore the due date of return of books borrowed and are undeterred by
fines attached to late return of books.
Information is a vital organizational
tool and an important business resource. Benedon (1992) was of the view that
because of today’s advance in technology and dependency upon communication,
information has joined capital, labour and materials as the ingredients for
successful enterprise. Unfortunately, as important as information i
